Our Story

Uncovering the stories of Minnesota's past.

About Minnesota Then

At Minnesota Then, we’re passionate about making history accessible to everyone, regardless of their location, time constraints, or budget. By leveraging technology and creative storytelling, we break down the usual barriers that keep people from engaging with museums – like cost, distance, and scheduling. We’re excited to offer a unique way for everyone to connect with the past – anytime, wherever they are.

Why We Do This

Our journey to creating Minnesota Then was inspired by a deep desire to tell the stories of places that can’t always share their own past. We believe history should be accessible to everyone, not just those able to visit traditional museums. From early pop-up experiments to this digital platform, we’ve embraced innovative technology and thoughtful design to make Minnesota's rich history come alive—right at your fingertips.

Our Journey

2016

Founded Minnesota Then

Started as a post-grad thesis project to share local history on a community level.

2020

Launched the Blog

Began publishing in-depth articles about Minnesota's past.

2022

Expanded to Multimedia

The Museum Without Walls project enters active development.

Curious about Minnesota’s history? Minnesota Then brings fascinating historic sites to life, offering detailed information, evocative images, captivating stories, and fun interactive features like our engaging blog and trivia games. Whether you're relaxing at home or on the go, we’ve made it easy, fun, and unforgettable to connect with the past.

Minnesota Then Interactive Features

An Invitation to Discover

Ready to step into Minnesota's history? Start your journey today! Explore the map, try our trivia, dive into the blog, and much, much more.